Part 5- Style and Finesse has chapters on
continuity, receptivity, texture, brevity, and the really fun stuff like
punctuation and grammar.

If you’re thinking Troubleshooting Your Novel covers a
lot of ground, you’d be correct. This book clocks in at a whopping 355 pages,
but don’t let that worry you. This is a very readable book on the craft.

Each chapter is short. I’m talking 3-5 pages. Most begin
with a brief anecdote, followed by a couple of pages of insights on the topic.
Then there’s a “quick fix” with tips for addressing that issue and almost every
chapter concludes with questions you can ask to help you fine tune your
manuscript.

There are a lot of
ways you can utilize this resource:

1. You can read it straight through. This is my preferred
method. There’s a lot of solid writing advice in this book and it’s great to
read all of it in a few chunks to get an overview.

2. You can read it one chapter at a time. Take it slow. Let
it all sink in. This is another great option, especially for writers who don’t
think they have time to read anything on the craft. You absolutely do have time
to read four pages a day to improve your writing.

3. Or you can pull out a topic here and there based on what
you need in your manuscript. This isn’t a bad idea, but I think it will work
best if you’ve used one of the first two options first.

Regardless of which method you choose, Troubleshooting Your Novel
is a resource you should consider adding to your shelf.

So, how about you? Do you have a manuscript that could use
some troubleshooting?

Lynn Huggins Blackburn believes in the power of stories, especially those that remind us that true love exists, a gift from the Truest Love. She’s passionate about CrossFit, coffee, and chocolate (don’t make her choose) and experimenting with recipes that feed both body and soul. She lives in South Carolina with her true love, Brian, and their three children. Her first book, Covert Justice, won the 2016 Selah Award for Mystery and Suspense and the 2016 Carol Award for Short Novel. Her second book, Hidden Legacy, releases June 2017. You can follow her real life happily ever after on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and at lynnhugginsblackburn.com.

I really like that method! I think it's easier to digest all the advice that way. :) But I'm nosy so I wanted the "big picture" first so I could then go back in and study the parts I really need to work on (which, um, is ALL of it!)

Thanks, Lynn. I was not aware of this book. I know Steven James is an excellent teacher, having taken his conference class. I will add this to my library because I can never know enough about my craft.